Health and usage management of an environmental control system

ABSTRACT

A method includes receiving a sampled input, the sampled input being a result of a detection device sensing a plurality of environmental conditions by an air cycle machine; processing the sampled input to detect whether the plurality of environmental conditions includes a deviation from an expected operation of the air cycle machine; and generating a notification output in response to the plurality of environmental conditions including the deviation from the expected operation of the air cycle machine.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to monitoring for indications of and/orfatigue failures, and more specifically, to detection of deviations froman expected operation that lead to fatigue failures of a rotary machineof an environmental control system.

In general, a system through overuse and untimely maintenance will havefatigue failures. Servicing methods addressing system fatigue failuresinclude reactionary maintenance and maintenance checks. Reactionarymaintenance is an action that is in direct response to clear signs of apending fatigue failure or an actual fatigue failure. A clear fatiguefailure sign is any recognizable event, such as noise or smoke, from asystem. A fatigue failure is a system breakdown, which may result fromneglecting clear fatigue failure signs or from unavailability of suchsigns prior to the fatigue failure. Maintenance checks are actions thatsearch for clear fatigue failure signs before the resulting fatiguefailure occurs. However, reactionary maintenance and maintenance checksput the system out-of-commission until the servicing method is complete,thereby negatively affecting an operation time of the system.

For example, in an aircraft environment, an air cycle machine connectedto an environmental control system utilizes an air cycle cooling processto output cool air directly into an aircraft cabin or onto electronicequipment for ventilation/cooling. If the air cycle machine exhibits aclear fatigue failure sign (e.g., smoke generation, unexpected operationnoise, etc.) or has a fatigue failure (e.g., fatigue failure of fanblades, blade loss, blade/housing contact, etc.), the air cycle machinemust receive reactionary maintenance. Yet, reactionary maintenance iscostly, as a usual result is to entirely replace the fatigued air cyclemachine, which puts the aircraft unexpectedly out-of-commission untilthe reactionary maintenance is complete. Further, rather than wait foran air cycle machine to exhibit a clear fatigue failure sign or have afatigue failure, the air cycle machine may go through scheduledmaintenance checks. Yet, like reactionary maintenance, scheduledmaintenance checks are also costly because these checks guarantee thatthe aircraft will be regularly out-of-commission, while providing noguarantee that the scheduled maintenance checks will discover a fatiguefailure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving a sampledinput, the sampled input being a result of a detection device sensing aplurality of environmental conditions by an air cycle machine;processing the sampled input to detect whether the plurality ofenvironmental conditions includes a deviation from an expected operationof the air cycle machine; and generating a notification output inresponse to the plurality of environmental conditions including thedeviation from the expected operation of the air cycle machine.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product comprises acomputer readable storage medium having program instructions embodiedtherewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause areceiving of a sampled input, the sampled input being a result of adetection device sensing a plurality of environmental conditions by anair cycle machine; a processing of the sampled input to detect whetherthe plurality of environmental conditions includes a deviation from anexpected operation of the air cycle machine; and a generating of anotification output in response to the plurality of environmentalconditions including the deviation from the expected operation of theair cycle machine.

According to yet another embodiment, a system includes a managementfacility and is configured to receive a sampled input, the sampled inputbeing a result of a detection device sensing a plurality ofenvironmental conditions by an air cycle machine; process the sampledinput to detect whether the plurality of environmental conditionsincludes a deviation from an expected operation of the air cyclemachine; and generate a notification output in response to the pluralityof environmental conditions including the deviation from the expectedoperation of the air cycle machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a management system; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow of management system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As indicated above, a system through overuse and untimely maintenancewill have fatigue failures. Servicing methods addressing system fatiguefailures, such as reactionary maintenance and maintenance checks, arecostly with respect to the unexpected and scheduled amounts of time thatthe system is out-of-commission. Thus, what is needed is a system andmethod that identifies deviations from an expected operation of astructure before those deviations develop into the clear signs offatigue failures and/or the fatigue failures themselves. In turn, thesystem and method enables structure servicing to be directly scheduledon an as needed basis, thereby minimizing the out-of-commission time dueto reactionary maintenance and/or unnecessary maintenance checks.

In general, embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein mayinclude a management system, method, and/or computer program productthat performs a deviation detection and notification process. Forexample, a management system and method generally includes performingthe deviation detection and notification process by monitoring astructure, such as a rotary machine, for deviations from an expectedoperation of the structure and producing notifications in response tothe deviations that cause servicing for the structure to be directlyscheduled on an as needed basis. Deviations from an expected operationare minute, irregular, and/or trending events or pulsations that are noteasily recognizable to human or sensor observation and that deviate froman expected operation.

For instance, with respect to performing the deviation detection andnotification process in the aircraft environment example, an airmanagement control system in conjunction with a health and usagemanagement system detects occurrences of vibration trends and/orirregularities that correlate to deviations of an expected operation ofan air cycle machine (e.g., structure of rotary machine). Examples ofdeviations from expected operations of the air cycle machine may includeissues with components of the air cycle machine, such as a rotor, aircycle machine compressor, air cycle machine fan, independent ram airfan, and cabin air. In some instances, a deviation or “surge” is apneumatic event related to fluid flow within the air cycle machine thatcauses unexpected vibrations (e.g., the vibration level under surge maygo down or up when compared to non-surge scenarios).

In operation, the air management control system utilizes a detector tosample operations of the air cycle machine and sends those samples to acontroller. The controller processes the sampled operations to detectdeviations from an expected operation, and when deviations are detected,communicates the deviations to the health and usage management system sothat a maintenance action may be taken to directly address thedeviations (e.g. vibration indicators that correlate to deviations maysuggest low levels of fatigue with any of the components of the aircycle that after some time, if not addressed, may lead to failure; sothe health and usage management may schedule a condition action and/orcontinue monitoring of the air cycle machine until the deviations reacha predefined level). Thus, deviations from the expected operation areutilized by the air management control system to avoid the clear signsof fatigue failures, actual fatigue failures, and any relatedreactionary maintenance and/or unnecessary maintenance checks.

Systems and/or computing devices, such as management system and method(e.g., environment 1, systems 5, 7 and management facility 101 of FIG.1), may employ any of a number of computer operating systems, including,but by no means limited to, versions and/or varieties of the AIX UNIXoperating system distributed by International Business Machines ofArmonk, N.Y., the Microsoft Windows operating system, the Unix operatingsystem (e.g., the Solaris operating system distributed by OracleCorporation of Redwood Shores, Calif.), the Linux operating system, theMac OS X and iOS operating systems distributed by Apple Inc. ofCupertino, Calif., the BlackBerry OS distributed by Research In Motionof Waterloo, Canada, and the Android operating system developed by theOpen Handset Alliance. Examples of computing devices include, withoutlimitation, a computer workstation, a server, a desktop, a notebook, alaptop, a network device, a handheld computer, a tablet device, a mobiledevice, bay-type computing device, or some other computing system and/ordevice.

In general, computing devices may include a processor (e.g., a processor103 of FIG. 2) and a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a memory104 of FIG. 1), where the processor receives computer readable programinstructions, e.g., from the computer readable storage medium, andexecutes these instructions, thereby performing one or more processes,including one or more of the processes described herein (e.g., adeviation detection and notification process).

Computer readable program instructions may be compiled or interpretedfrom computer programs created using assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on a computingdevice, partly on the computing device, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on a local computing device and partly on a remotecomputer device or entirely on the remote computer device. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the local computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, forexample, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays(FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computerreadable program instructions by utilizing state information of thecomputer readable program instructions to configure the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.Computer readable program instructions described herein may also bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network (e.g., any combination of computing devices andconnections that support communication). For example, a network may bethe Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or awireless network, comprise copper transmission cables, opticaltransmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers, and utilize a pluralityof communication technologies, such as radio technologies, cellulartechnologies, etc. In view of the aircraft environment example, thenetwork may be aircraft data network.

Computer readable storage mediums may be a tangible device that retainsand stores instructions for use by an instruction execution device(e.g., a computing device as described above). A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronicstorage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, anelectromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of morespecific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes thefollowing: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory(SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanicallyencoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groovehaving instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, isnot to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radiowaves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagneticwaves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Thus, the management system and method and/or elements thereof may beimplemented as computer readable program instructions on one or morecomputing devices, stored on computer readable storage medium associatedtherewith. A computer program product may comprise such computerreadable program instructions stored on computer readable storage mediumfor carrying and/or causing a processor to carry out the operations ofthe management system and method.

FIG. 1 illustrates a management system and method as an environment 1,which includes a structure 3, a system 5, and a system 7. The system 5includes a detection device 100 and a management facility 101, where thedetection device 100 comprises an input output (I/O) device 102 a andthe management facility comprises an I/O device 102 b, a processor 103,and a memory 104. The memory of the management facility 101 includes amanagement application 110, which may include modules, and a storagedatabase 120, which manages configuration files.

The environment 1 and items therein may include and/or employ any numberand combination of computing devices and networks utilizing variouscommunication technologies, as described above, that enable the system 5to perform deviation detection and notification processing. Inoperation, the environment 1 enables the structure 3 to provide samplinginputs to the system 5 that, in turn, provides notification outputs tothe system 7. For instance, the detection device 100 of the system 5samples vibrations on the structure 3 (e.g., arrow A). The detectiondevice 100 communicates (e.g., arrow B) the sampled vibrations to themanagement facility 101, which in turn utilizes the processor 103 toperform on the sampled input the deviation detection and notificationprocessing, in accordance with instructions provided from the memory 104by the management application 110 and/or the configuration files managedby the storage database 120. The management facility 101, in response tothe processing, communicates (e.g., arrow C) the notification output tothe system 7. The notification output may include any deviations of anexpected operation of the structure 3 within the received sampled input.Then, the system 7 initializes maintenance scheduling for the structure3 in accordance with the received notification output. Thus, thedeviation detection and notification processing by the environment 1identifies deviations of an expected operation at inception and/orbefore those deviations develop into a fatigue failure of the structure3, which enables direct and timely maintenance of the structure 3 andavoids unnecessary maintenance checks when there are no clear fatiguefailure signs.

Examples of environment 1 include, but are not limited to, aircraftenvironments within aircraft such as planes, helicopters, etc.;watercraft environments within watercraft such as boats, submarines,etc.; and the like. Thus, if the environment 1 is the aircraftenvironment, the structure 3 may include the air cycle machine, thesystem 5 may include the environmental control system, and the system 7may include the health and usage management system. Further, thedetection device 100 may be the accelerometer that is configured tosample/detect vibrations (e.g., sampling input) by the air cyclemachine. The air management control system (e.g., the managementfacility 110) and the accelerometer may utilize wired and/or wirelesstransceivers (e.g., I/O device 102 a, 102 b) to transfer thesampled/detected vibrations by the accelerometer to an air cycle machinecontroller. An air cycle machine controller (e.g., processor 103) isconfigured to process the sampled/detected vibrations for deviations ofan expected operation of the air cycle machine. The air managementcontrol system then reports (e.g., notification output) to the healthand usage management system (e.g., system 7) any deviations identifiedwithin the sampled/detected vibrations and/or instructions with respectto a type of fatigue failure. Thus, the air management control system inconjunction with the health and usage management system detectsdeviations of the expected operation of the air cycle machine viavibrations.

The structure 3 may include any device that converts energy intomechanical motion, such as pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric motors,such as a rotary machine. For instance, pneumatic motors or compressedair engines utilize compressed air energy to mechanical work througheither linear motion (e.g., from either a diaphragm or piston actuators)or rotary motion (e.g., from vane type or piston air motors). Inaddition, pneumatic motors may operate under expected conditions orsurge conditions, each of which include different flow rates and shaftspeeds, which further enhances the difficulty in detecting surges (e.g.,because vibration changes due to surges may be missed as the pneumaticmotors change operating conditions). Due to these properties ofcompressed air, pneumatic motors are generally maintained viareactionary maintenance and maintenance checks. The structure 3 iscapable of operating in a safe mode, when a fatigue failure indicator isdetected by the system 5, such that the conversion of energy intomechanical motion occurs at a reduced rate and the chance of a fatiguefailure by the structure 3 is less likely.

The system 5 is generally a processing portion of the environment 1 thatreceives (e.g., arrow A) sampling inputs from the structure 3 andprovides (e.g., arrow C) notification outputs to a system 7.

The system 7 is generally a data collection and analysis portion of theenvironment 1 that receives (e.g., arrow C) notification outputs fromthe system 5. The system 7 receives the notification outputs (e.g.,arrow C), which includes the deviations of the expected operation, theinstructions, and/or other fault data, from the system 5 to initiatemaintenance of the structure 3. In view of the aircraft environmentexample, the system 7 may include the health and usage managementsystem, which comprises or is connected to a cockpit avionics systemand/or a central maintenance computer, such that maintenance of thestructure 3 is initiated as further described below.

The detection device 100 may include any converter that measures andconverts environmental conditions and/or a physical action into a signalthat is read by an instrument or an observer. Examples of environmentalconditions and/or a physical action include, but are not limited to,vibration, light, motion, temperature, magnetic fields, gravity,humidity, moisture, pressure, electrical fields, sound, and the like.The detection device 100 may also include any hardware, software, orcombination of hardware and software to convert measured quantities andto transmit the measured quantities (e.g., through wired and/or wirelessconnections). The detection device 100 may measure and store thephysical actions at pre-defined times, in response to an event, inaccordance with the overall physicality of the environment 1. Thedetection device 100 may communicate the physical actions via a firstwired and/or wireless transceiver to a second transceiver, wherein thefirst wired and/or wireless transceiver may be integrated into (e.g., asillustrated in FIG. 1) or external to the detection device 100. Thus,the detection device 100 of the system 5 is configured to convert/sampleenvironmental conditions and/or physical actions by the structure 3(e.g., receive the sampling input, arrow A) and communicate (e.g., arrowB) via the I/O device 102 a the converted/sampled physical actions tothe I/O device 102 b of the management facility 101. Examples of thedetection device 100 include capacitive spring mass base,electromechanical, laser accelerometer, low frequency, magneticinduction, optical, piezoelectric accelerometer, resonance, seat pad,strain gauge, and surface acoustic wave accelerometers and/or include awireless sensor with an integrated accelerometer. Further, while thedetection device 100 may be a part of the management facility 101 (asillustrated in FIG. 1), the detection device 100 may also beincorporated into a housing of the structure 3 and/or the managementfacility 101.

In view of the aircraft environment example, the detection device 100may be the accelerometer that is configured to sample/detectenvironmental conditions, such as vibrations, by the air cycle machine.Further, the accelerometer may measures and stores the sampled/detectedvibrations at pre-defined times and rates (e.g., at a sampling rate of200 Hz, 400 Hz, 600 Hz, 800 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1200 Hz, etc.), based on theoverall vibratory environment of the air cycle machine, throughoutflight and on the ground. In one example, the detection device 100 mayoperate in a low power mode (e.g., or sleep mode) that sensesenvironmental conditions and/or physical actions. Further, the detectiondevice 100 is converted into full power mode upon sensing an eventwithin the environmental conditions and/or physical actions (e.g., aftera predetermined period of time passes and/or a vibration over athreshold amplitude). The predetermined period of time may include aperiodic wake up feature that upon waking up enables the detectiondevice 100 to assess the environmental conditions locally (intelligentsensor) or wait for data acquisition commands from an external system.For example, the predetermined period of time may be a value of 5minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes,etc. that may be related to a second condition, such as initiation of anoperation of the structure, of a landing of an aircraft, of a cruisingof the aircraft, etc. The threshold amplitude may be any amplitude thatis outside of an expected operation condition by the air cycle machine(e.g., vibration trends and/or irregularities are minute, irregular,and/or trending events or pulsations that are not easily recognizable tohuman or sensor observation and that deviate from an expectedoperation). For example, the threshold amplitude may be a value that isgreater than expected vibration amplitude operations and/or is equal tothe 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc. times the expected amplitude.

The management facility 101 may include any hardware, software, orcombination of hardware and software configured to perform deviationdetection and notification processing. As illustrated in FIG. 1, themanagement facility 101 may be a standalone device (e.g., implemented ina computing device as described above) that includes one or more I/Ointerfaces (e.g., I/O device 102 b), processors (e.g., processor 103),and memories (e.g., memory 104), each of which communicates via a systembus (not shown). Further, the management facility 101 may be directlyconnected to and/or integrated with other components (e.g., structure3), devices (e.g., the detection device 100), and systems (e.g., system7), or connected via a network as described above (e.g., the aircraftdata network). Thus, the management facility 101 utilizes the managementapplication 110 and a storage database 120 to operate the I/O device 102b and the processor 103, so as to monitor the structure 3 for operationtrends and/or irregularities that equate to deviations and producenotifications in response to the deviations that cause servicing for thestructure 3 to be directly scheduled on an as needed basis.

I/O devices 102 a, 102 b may include any physical and/or virtual I/Ointerface or device utilized to communicate between elements internaland/or external to the environment 1. Examples of I/O devices 102 a, 102b include transmitters, receivers, transceivers, transceiver networkcards, network interface cards, and the like that are configured totransmit and/or receive signals in accordance with wired and wirelesscommunication technologies. Thus, the I/O device 102 b may be configuredto receive and/or send signals or data within or for the managementfacility 101. Further, the I/O device 102 may be configured tofacilitate queries to the detection device 100 for any storedconverted/detected physical actions at pre-defined times, in response toan event, etc. A query, in general, is an information retrieval activityof obtaining information relevant to an information need (e.g., desireto discover fatigue failure indicators within the converted/detectedphysical actions). Information retrieval activity initiates searchesbased on metadata, full-text indexing, timers, sampling rates, etc.Thus, for example, the query may initiate or cause the managementapplication 110 to perform the deviation detection and notificationprocess. Further, the query may be received and/or generated in responseto a user input indicating a search for information, at pre-definedtimes, in response to an event, etc.

The I/O devices 102 a, 102 b may also process any converted/detectedphysical action into a fatigue failure indicator in accordance with theconfiguration data set or file as directed by the management facility101, and transmit that fatigue failure indicator to the processor 103.In view of the aircraft example above, the I/O device 102 b may be awired and/or wireless transceiver (as noted above) that upon a landingevent by the aircraft, facilities queries to the accelerometer for anystored sampled/detected vibrations. Further, in some aircraftenvironment, surge events are more likely on the ground, so detectiondevice 100 would not waste energy (particularly if battery powered) toacquire vibration data in flight and thus a query activity on the groundmay include the detection sensor 100 sampling the data and then sendingit to the management facility 101. Also, the any stored sampled/detectedvibrations may be transmitted from the detection device 100 in flight,without waiting for a landing event.

The processor 103 may include any processing hardware, software, orcombination of hardware and software that carries out the computerreadable program instructions by performing arithmetical, logical,and/or input/output operations. In general, the processor 103 of themanagement facility 101 receives computer readable program instructionsas defined by the management application 110 from the memory 104 andexecutes these instructions, thereby performing one or more processes,such the deviation detection and notification process. Examples of theprocessor 103 include, but are not limited to an arithmetic logic unit,which performs arithmetic and logical operations; a control unit, whichextracts, decodes, and executes instructions from a memory; an arrayunit, which utilizes multiple parallel computing elements; and a digitalsignal processor, which is a specialized microprocessor with anarchitecture optimized for the operational needs of digital signalprocessing. In view of the aircraft example above, the processor 103 maybe the air cycle machine controller and, along with the accelerometerand the wired and/or wireless transceiver, include or interface with theair cycle machine.

The memory 104 may include a tangible device that retains and storescomputer readable program instructions, as provided by the managementapplication 110, for use by the processor 103 of the management facility101. For example, the memory 104 may store a management application 110,sampling inputs received from the detection device 100, and notificationoutputs resulting from the received sampling inputs. Further, the memory104 may manage the storage database 120 that stores the configurationdata set or files (as described below) for use by the managementapplication 110.

The management application 110 may include computer readable programinstructions configured to perform the fatigue failure detection andnotification process. The management application 110 may utilize modulesand configuration data sets or files of the storage database 120 tooperate the I/O device 102 and the processor 103, so as to monitor thestructure 3 for operation trends and/or irregularities that equate todeviations and produce notifications in response to the deviations thatcause servicing for the structure 3 to be directly scheduled on an asneeded basis. Thus, the management application 110 may cause thedetection of deviations in real-time as environmental conditions and/orphysical actions are converted/detected; the placing of the detectiondevice 100 into the low power mode; the placing of the structure 3 intothe safe mode; the generation of the configuration data set or filesbased on user inputs, environment 1 feedback, etc.; the storage of theconfiguration data in the storage database 120; and the generation andcommunication of the notification outputs. The notification outputs, ingeneral, are a report mechanism for delivering and/or identifyinginformation (or non-existence of the information) by the managementapplication 110. Examples of report mechanisms may include, but are notlimited to, illuminated lights, text messaging (e.g., SMS), audio alerts(e.g., telephone calls, cellphone calls, VoIP calls, voicemails,loudspeaker announcements, etc.), electronic mail (e.g., POP, IMAP,SMTP), desktop alerts (e.g., dialog, balloon, modal window, toast,etc.), pager (e.g., SNPP), instant messaging (e.g., IRC, ICQ, AIM,Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, XMPP, iMessage), and the like.

In view of the aircraft environment above, the management application110 is an air management software application of the air managementcontrol system that is configured to detect and differentiate betweencompressor vibration surges and fan vibration surges by vibrationspectrum characteristics (e.g., as dictated by parameters of theconfiguration data set or file). Further, the air management softwareapplication detects the difference between the vibration spectrumcharacteristics of an air cycle machine operating under expectedconditions or surge conditions at a given ram flow rate and air cyclemachine shaft speed (e.g., as dictated by parameters of theconfiguration data set or file). The air management software applicationis also configured to generate notification outputs to an aircraftcockpit, upon or after landing, before take-off, after taxiing away fromthe gate, while at the gate, etc., via the cockpit avionics system. Inoperation, the air management software application may access theaccelerometer, which has stored sampled/detected vibrations by the aircycle machine in response to sensing vibrations over the thresholdamplitude and/or based on the overall vibratory environment, throughouta flight. Upon or after landing, etc., the air management softwareapplication facilitates through the wired and/or wireless transceiversthe query the accelerometer for the sampled/detected vibrations that theaccelerometer may have stored. The air management software applicationthen, through the wired and/or wireless transceivers, receives from theaccelerometer the stored sampled/detected vibrations. The air managementsoftware application then detects deviations from operations from thestored sampled/detected vibrations (e.g., surge vibrations). The airmanagement software application then communicates deviations to the aircycle machine controller. The air management software application thencauses air cycle machine controller to logically combine the deviationsinto fault data that is sent to the cockpit avionics system, centralmaintenance computer and/or to portable maintenance equipment operatedby maintenance crew (e.g., such as a central computer or a handhelddevice carried by a maintenance person). The fault data provided to thecockpit avionics system drives a maintenance check of the air cyclemachine. For example, the air management software application maymessage the cockpit, upon landing, via the cockpit avionics system. Thismessage is noted by the aircrew or maintainer, who then, per procedure,checks the central maintenance computer for fault data. The airmanagement software application may associate the surge fault found onthe central maintenance computer to a maintenance check for blockage onthe pack heat exchanger or other potential failure condition. Themaintainer will then inspect the heat exchanger, and if blockage isfound, plan appropriate maintenance.

The storage database 120, in general, may include a database, datarepository or other data store and may include various kinds ofmechanisms for storing, accessing, and retrieving various kinds of data,including a hierarchical database, a set of files in a file system, anapplication database in a proprietary format, a relational databasemanagement system (RDBMS), etc. The storage database 120 may generallybe included within the memory 104 of the management facility 101employing a computer operating system such as one of those mentionedabove, and are accessed via a network in any one or more of a variety ofmanners. The storage database 120 is in communication with themanagement application 110 of and/or applications external to themanagement facility 101, such that information is provided to themanagement application 110 to perform operation described herein (e.g.,to perform a deviation detection and notification process). The storagedatabase 120 may be a part of the management application 110, runindependently within the same device or system as the managementapplication 110 (as illustrated in FIG. 1), or be an external to and incommunication with the management application 110.

The storage database 120 may include a database, as described above,capable of collecting and archiving configuration data sets or files andthe plurality of sampling inputs indicating the physical actions of thestructure 3 received via I/O interface 102. The configuration data setsor files are items that govern how the application 110 performs thedeviation detection and notification process by defining sampling rates,sampling intervals or times, overall environmental conditions, thresholdvalues, low power mode settings, full power mode settings, metadata,full-text indexing, timers, the safe mode credentials, notificationoutputs and/or procedures, etc. The configuration data sets or files maybe generated based on user inputs, environment 1 feedback, etc., thesafe mode credentials, and/or the notification procedures. Theconfiguration data sets or files may also identify a type of structure 3within the environment 1, be updated to add settings, structures and/orsystems, and identify a type of fatigue failure indicator (e.g.,indicators that corresponds to rotor, air cycle machine compressor, aircycle machine fan, independent ram air fan, and cabin air compressorvibration surges). The storage database 120 may further communicate withother systems that may be internal or external to system 5.

The environment 1 and elements therein may take many different forms andinclude multiple and/or alternate components and facilities, and whilethe environment 1 is shown in FIG. 1, the components illustrated in FIG.1 are not intended to be limiting. Indeed, additional or alternativecomponents and/or implementations may be used. For example, while singleitems are illustrated for the management application 110 (and otheritems), these representations are not intended to be limiting and thus,the management application 110 items may represent a plurality ofapplications. Further, it should be understood that the same operabilitymay be provided using any modular breakdown of the managementapplication 110. Furthermore, although it is not specificallyillustrated in the figures, the management application 110 may furtherinclude a user interface module and an application programmableinterface module; however, these modules may be integrated with othermodules in any modular breakdown. A user interface module may includecomputer readable program instructions configured to generate and manageuser interfaces that receive inputs and present outputs. An applicationprogrammable interface module may include computer readable programinstructions configured to specify how other modules, applications,devices, and systems interact with each other.

The environment 1 will now be described with reference to an aircraftenvironment; however, the use of the aircraft environment is for ease ofexplanation and in no way is the environment 1 and/or the managementsystem and method intended to be limited to the aircraft environment.Further, in view of the aircraft environment above, the managementfacility 101 and the operations of the management facility 101 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow 200 of the environment 1. The process200 is not limiting an order or a grouping of operation arrows/circles.In fact, the operation arrows may be executed in sequence, concurrently,or the operation arrows/circles may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the operability involved. In FIG. 2, differentoperation arrows/circles align vertically with different segments A-Dand items 100, 102 to illustrate where these operations occur withrespect to the environment 1 of FIG. 1.

Process 200 is a conceptual process and data flow diagram between theair cycle machine (e.g., structure 3), the accelerometer (e.g.,detection device 100), the wired and/or wireless transceivers (e.g., I/Odevices 102 a, 102 b), the air cycle machine controller (e.g.,controller 103), and the health and usage management system (e.g.,system 7), which includes the cockpit avionics system and the centralmaintenance computer. The process 200 begins at arrow 205 where theaccelerometer is in sleep mode. The accelerometer remains in sleep modeuntil a wake up event (e.g., based on a predetermined time or so long asthe air cycle machine outputs vibrations that are lower than thethreshold amplitude). That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, theaccelerometer remains in sleep mode while environmental conditionsand/or physical actions (e.g., arrows 210.0 to 210.n, where ‘n’ is aninteger representing a sample number) are received. Although oneexemplary numbering sequence for the arrows 210.0 to 210.n is offered,it should be understood that the same operability may be provided usingfewer, greater, or differently implemented sequences. In response to awake up event (e.g., arrow 215), such as the conclusion of apredetermined time or a surge vibration, the process 200 proceeds toarrow 220 where the accelerometer wakes up, samples, and stores (e.g.,circle 225) the environmental conditions and/or physical actionsoutputted by the air cycle machine as data.

The process 200 next waits for a request event (e.g., circle 230), suchas the aircraft landing or a conclusion of another time interval, toinitiate a request (e.g., arrow 235) by the air cycle machine controller(of the management facility 101) to the accelerometer for the storeddata. The accelerometer then responds (e.g., arrow 240) with the storeddata. Once the wired and/or wired transceiver receives the data, thetransceiver facilitates an instruction (e.g., arrow 245) to theaccelerometer that causes the accelerometer to enter into sleep mode(e.g., arrow 250), where the accelerometer remains (e.g., so long as theair cycle machine outputs vibrations that are lower than the thresholdamplitude or until a prescribed wake-up time instance, as commanded bythe management facility 101).

In addition, the air cycle machine controller processes the data todetect deviations, incorporates the deviation information into faultcodes and maintenance check indicators and forwards the notification(e.g., arrow 255) output, which includes the fault codes and maintenancecheck indicators, to the health and usage management system, the cockpitavionics system, and central maintenance computer. Further, the aircycle machine controller may command the air cycle machine to operate ina safe mode upon receiving the deviation information.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or arrow diagrams (also referred to as blockdiagrams) of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program productsaccording to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood thateach arrow/circle (also referred to as block) of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the operations/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to operate in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe operation/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement theoperations/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, operability, and operation of possible implementations ofsystems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical operation(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the operations noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon theoperability involved. It will also be noted that each block of the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks inthe block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented byspecial purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedoperations or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of onemore other features, integers, steps, operations, element components,and/or groups thereof.

The flow diagrams depicted herein are just one example. There may bemany variations to this diagram or the steps (or operations) describedtherein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forinstance, the steps may be performed in a differing order or steps maybe added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered apart of the claimed invention.

While the preferred embodiment to the invention had been described, itwill be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in thefuture, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall withinthe scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construedto maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method executed by adetection device and by a processor of a management facility to detectoperational deviations by an air cycle machine of an aircraft fromexpected operations, the detection device of the aircraft beingincorporated in the air cycle machine, the management facility beingconnected to the detection device, the detection device comprising anaccelerometer coupled to a transceiver that communicates a sampled inputto the processor of the management facility, the computer-implementedmethod comprising: operating the detection device in sleep mode whilethe air cycle machine outputs vibrations that are lower than a thresholdamplitude or until a prescribed wake-up time instance; sensing, by theaccelerometer, a plurality of environmental conditions of the air cyclemachine subsequent to the detection device receiving a wake up eventcomprising when the vibrations exceed the threshold amplitude or at theprescribed wake-up time instance, the wake up event causing thedetection device to wake up from the sleep mode; storing, by thedetection device, a plurality of environmental conditions as the sampledinput; initiating a request, by the management facility to the detectiondevice, for the sampled input in response to a request event, therequest causing the detection device to wake up from the sleep mode;receiving, by the management facility from the detection device, thesampled input in response to the request; processing the sampled input,by the management facility, to detect whether the plurality ofenvironmental conditions includes at least one deviation from theexpected operations of the air cycle machine; and generating, by themanagement facility, a notification output in response to the pluralityof environmental conditions including the at least one deviation.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: instructing the air cycle machineto operate in safe mode in response to detecting the deviation.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the deviation is a surge vibration by the aircycle machine.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the deviation is one ofa plurality of deviations from the expected operation.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the plurality of deviations indicate at least avibration trend by the air cycle machine.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: causing a servicing of the air cycle machine bysending the notification output to a sub-system, the servicingcorresponding to a type of the deviation.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: causing the air cycle machine to operate at areduced rate when the deviation is detected.
 8. A computer programproduct, the computer program product comprising a computer readablestorage medium having program instructions to detect operationaldeviations by an air cycle machine of an aircraft from expectedoperations embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by adetection device and by a processor of a management facility of theaircraft connected to the detection device of the aircraft, thedetection device comprising an accelerometer coupled to a transceiverthat communicates a sampled input to the processor of the managementfacility, the detection device being incorporated in the air cyclemachine, the program instructions executable to cause: operating thedetection device in sleep mode while the air cycle machine outputsvibrations that are lower than a threshold amplitude or until aprescribed wake-up time instance; sensing, by the accelerometer, aplurality of environmental conditions of the air cycle machinesubsequent to the detection device receiving a wake up event comprisingwhen the vibrations exceed the threshold amplitude or at the prescribedwake-up time instance, the wake up event causing the detection device towake up from the sleep mode; storing, by the detection device, aplurality of environmental conditions as the sampled input; initiating arequest, by the management facility to the detection device, for thesampled input in response to a request event, the request causing thedetection device to wake up from the sleep mode; receiving, by themanagement facility from the detection device, the sampled input inresponse to the request; processing the sampled input, by the managementfacility, to detect whether the plurality of environmental conditionsincludes at least one deviation from the expected operations of the aircycle machine; and generating, by the management facility, anotification output in response to the plurality of environmentalconditions including the at least one deviation.
 9. The computer programproduct of claim 8, further comprising: instructing the air cyclemachine to operate in safe mode in response to detecting the deviation.10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the deviation is asurge vibration by the air cycle machine.
 11. The computer programproduct of claim 8, wherein the deviation is one of a plurality ofdeviations from the expected operation.
 12. The computer program productof claim 11, wherein the plurality of deviations indicate at least avibration trend by the air cycle machine.
 13. The computer programproduct of claim 8, further comprising: causing a servicing of the aircycle machine by sending the notification output to a sub-system, theservicing corresponding to a type of the deviation.